Naz Reid is one of the league’s most unique talents. His size, versatility, and overall offensive skill have made him a dangerous tertiary scoring threat to opposing defenses.
Throughout his career, he has showcased some of the best ball handling for a big man in the league. Then, he added to his game last season by becoming one of the league’s most efficient shooters, shooting a career-high 41.4% from three on a career-high 5.0 attempts per game.
Reid is a dynamic chess piece who offers Chris Finch dynamic functionality within his offense. After trading Karl-Anthony Towns, the Wolves have already increased Reid’s usage in the preseason.
Reid’s usage this season depends more on how the Wolves deploy him than on his true “usage” percentage. Naz is already making a meaningful impact because his game relies on being a dynamic offensive threat. However, he hasn’t had this level of freedom.
Julius Randle has been ramping up to playing condition and getting acclimated with the team, giving Reid plenty of opportunity to establish a role. Finch has already implemented Reid into many actions Towns once dominated, giving Reid a sense of balance between using the past and adapting to the new.
Reid also still hasn’t fully tapped into his upside.
When revisiting what has worked in the past, Reid already offers supreme comfortability with the ball in his hands above the break. Last year, he shot 121 of 290 (41.7%) on three-point attempts (3PA) above the break. Because of his above-the-break shooting, Finch can slot Reid into bigger roles in his offense.
The Wolves frequently run ‘Horns’ action, which features two bigs setting alternating high ball screens. That gives the ball-handler options to go left or right while having other actions deeper within each side of the action. The Timberwolves have run Horns frequently since trading for Rudy Gobert. This action matches Minnesota’s personnel, who have primary screening big and spacing big archetypes.
Reid was already comfortable alongside Gobert. Last year, they played 917 minutes together, a significant increase from the 181 minutes played together in 2022-23. With Towns’s absence, Reid will likely play more with Gobert this season.
Last year, Reid shot just as well as Towns. Reid shot 65 of 392 (42.1%); Towns was 118 of 276 (42.8%) on catch-and-shoot 3PA last season. Reid demanded the opposing defense’s attention, only opening opportunities for others.
The Wolves can also deploy Reid as a screener on their ‘Double Drag’ actions. Double Drag possessions feature two staggered high ball screens, which flourish when a 3P shooter is the popper. These screens create flow into other players and give Minnesota more scoring options, especially when Anthony Edwards is off the floor. The preseason has been an excellent example of the process being more important than the results.
Reid slots perfectly into Towns’ role in these actions. He offers similar spot-up shooting efficiency and gravity while matching the on-ball dynamics that Towns presented. However, Reid’s ability to make plays off the dribble can be even more dynamic. He possesses more counters to defensive coverages on drives, offering more through his agility to get around defenders and change pace during play.
Towns had his fair share of turnover issues on drives. That’s not a knock on Towns. Instead, it’s highlighting Reid’s strengths. His tight handle is a different trait from most of the league’s players his size, allowing him to use more creativity in different play types. Reid started his NBA career as the screener within PnR possessions. But now he offers even more upside by occasionally acting as the ball-handler on screens.
The Wolves still have a fairly open competition for secondary ball-handler minutes. They will cycle between mainstays Anthony Edwards and Nickeil Alexander-Walker and newly-acquired Donte DiVincenzo and Rob Dillingham. Having multiple options to keep the continuity of Finch’s flow offense stable without Mike Conley on the floor will make the half-court offense easier to manage when the 37-year-old point guard rests.
Approaching it as a committee will only encourage ball movement and is another area where Reid can blossom.
Most importantly, Reid can adapt to Minnesota’s big man room. Reid has become more of a positionless player as he has evolved but will still see time as the backup 5. His ability to toggle between playing his off-ball wing/forward hybrid minutes and taking on center duties is commendable. He’s a key cog in Minnesota’s lineup versatility.
Therefore, Reid is versatile within possessions. He’s a dynamic threat to score at the rim downhill and, as a spot-up shooter, can play within multiple lineups. That has given him more opportunities and minutes to work with, an opportunity that has gradually developed since Reid’s rookie season. He has fully earned the right to be a key contributor.
Minnesota had multiple motives for moving off Towns. Flipping Towns for more manageable contracts while keeping the same amount of talent was crucial. Still, Minnesota’s front office has the utmost trust in Reid’s development alongside Edwards. This season will tell a lot about how far he can develop as a contributor, especially because he has a player option after this season and will likely become an unrestricted free agent this off-season.
The trade of Towns trade created a new Wolves era as they balance the present and future. Reid is now Minnesota’s longest-tenured player. At 25, he still has plenty of room to grow. There is no other player like Naz, and this season will clarify what he can become if he taps into his potential.
